Liquid-meter.



T. F. MULLIGAIN.

LIQUID METER.

APPLICATION FILED lAN.16, 1911.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

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LIQUID METER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, 1911.

Patnted Jan. 18

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l H V 7 z. 4 W 6 ix l Illllllilillfllllg, Illllllllllllllllll u ////4)))))))l)lmlllllllllllllllllllll in rs .EHOMAS F. 'MULLIGAN, OFFOR'I'WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO 8. F. BOWSER 85 COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OFFORT WAYNE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF IN DIANA.

LIQUID-METER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

Application filed January 16, 1911. Serial No. 602,826.

To all w/z am it may concern: I

Be it known that I, THOMAS F. MULLIGAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Liquid-Meters, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in meters for measuring liquids,particularly oils and the like, and which meter is adapted to beactuated by the passage of the liquid therethrough.

Heretofore considerable difiiculty has been experienced with meters ofthe character known as pipe line meters in that the meter is frequentlyactuated by the passage of air therethrough instead of by the liquid,with the result that the registering mechanism will not indicate theexact amount of liquid which has passed through the meter.

To obviate these difficulties and the objections and to provide animproved meter having means whereby the registering mechanism will becontrolled by the "supply of liquid and will be automatically renderedinactive when the supply of liquid fails, is the primary object. of thisinvention.

A further object is to provide an "improved device of this characterhaving trip mechanism whereby the supply of liquid may be cut off fromthe line when a predetermined amount. has been supplied thereto.

A further object is to provide an improved meter of this character oflarge capacity and in which the parts are compactly arranged, whereby ameter of the minimum sizemay be obtained.

A further object is to provide an improved device of this characterwhichwill be simple, durable and cheap in construction and effective andefiicient in operation.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other vnew anduseful obcordance with the principles of this invenin dotted lines theposition they assume when the register is thrown into operation. Fig. 2is a sectional View of a valve con trolled by the register mechanism.Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3-3, Fig. 6. Fig. 4is a detail sectional view taken on line l4, Fig. 6. Fig. 5 is asectional view taken on line 5-5, Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a sectional Viewtaken on line 66, Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a left hand elevation of Fig. .4.

Referring more particularly to the drawing the numeral 10 designatesgenerally a meter casing having an inlet 11 and an outlet 12. Within thecasing is a rotary ele ment, the Wings of which are designated generallyby the-reference numeral 1 3 and which are adapted to be rotated by thefluid passing through the meter in the manner set forth in anapplication of Allen A. 'Bowser, filed June 19, 1908, Serial No.439,397. The outlet 12 from the casing leads to a valve mechanism of astructure similar to that illustrated in the application just re ferredto. The wings or blades of the element are connected with an axle 14:which latter projects through one side of the casing 10 and has securedthereto a gear 15.

This gear 15 is connected through the intermediate gears 16, 17, 18, 19and 20, to a shaft 21 on which the gear 20 is secured, and a worm 22(see Fig. I) on the shaft meshes with a worm gear 23 on a shaft 24,which latter supports the arm 25 in a 1I1i1I1 ner hereinafter set forthand which arm acts upon the tripping mechanism 26 in a manner similar tothat set forth in the application above referred to, so that when theliquid is flowing through the meter the latter will be operated throughthe blades 13 and thereby rotate the arm 25, which latter will act uponthe valve tripping mechanism 26. The trippingmechanism and valve may beof anywell known construction, and in the present invention embodies avalve 9 with a spring 8 tending to seat the valve on its seat 7 in thecasing 10. Separate from I the valve but having a recessed end tocontain one end of the valve stem is a rod 6 having a groove adapted tobe engaged by a lever 4 for holding the rod 6 and the valve downwardlyagainst the pressure of the spring 8 in open position, as shown in Fig.2. This lever 4 is adapted to be engaged by a projection 3 on thetripping mechanism 26. When the projection 3 of the tripping mechanismengages the lever 4 it is moved out of the groove 5 and the spring 8acts to seat the valve. These blades of the meter also serve to actuatethe registermechanism 27 for indicating the amount of liquid whichpasses through the meter and for this purpose there is provided anadditional gear 28 on the shaft-21 which meshes with a gear 29 on acounter shaft 30. A gear 31 on the gear 15 and liquid is flowing throughthe meter, the reglstcring mechanism will be ,actuated, and willcontinue to be actuatedv while liquid is passing through the meter by 3being drawn or forced therethrough. In

order to automatically shift this gear 16 out ofvmesh with the gear 15so'as to throw the register 27 out of operation when the supply ofliquid ceases but to permit the blades 13 to rotate by the passage ofair through the meter, to prevent damage, while at the same time cuttingout the register, there is provided a float 35 which is controlled bythe height or'supply of the liquid, and this float controls the positionof the gear 16 in a manner which will now be described. The

valve casing 10adjacent the inlet opening 11 is provided with a chamber36 within which the float 35 is located, and if desired this chamber maybe provided with a removable bottom 36' by means of which the float maybe removed or any sediment or foreign matter may be cleaned from thechamber. This float 35 is connected to a rock shaft 37 extendingtransversely across the valve casing and which shaft is journaled insuitable supports. One extremity of the shaft preferably projects beyondone face'of the casing and. is provided with a crank arm 39. A link 40is-connected at one extremity to the crank arm 39. and at its otherextremity to the arm or support 33 and is of suchv a length that whenthe float 35 stands in proximity to the'bottom of the chamber 36, thecrank arm 39 will cause the link 40 to shift the arm or support 33 aboutts p1vot 34 to move the gear 16 out of.

mesh with the gear 15/and when the float is elevated to the properdistance by the presence of a sufiicient'amount of liquid in the chamber36, the crank arm 39 will be shifted in the opposite direction to causethe link 40 to move the arm or support 33 about its point of pivotalsupport 34 in the opposite direction to move the gear 16 into mesh withthe gear 15. The link 40 is of such a length that when the parts assumethe positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the points of pivotalconnection of the link with the arm 39 and support 33. will be in asubstantially straight line with the shaft 37 to hold the gear 16 in aposition to coiiperate with gear 15. The crank arm 39, link 40 and theconnecting gears are preferably located on the outside of the casing anda cover 41 is-provided for protecting these parts. e

The shaft 24 is journaled in a suitable bearing in the top of the casingand projects beyond the upper face thereof, as shown more clearly inFig. 6. An annular flange or member 42 surrounds the projectingextremity of the shaft 24 and is secured to the upper face of the top ofthe casing. The upper face of this annular member 42 is provided withgraduations 43 forming an index or indicator by means of which apredetermined amount may be indicated so that when the indicated amounthas been dis charged through the meter the tripping mechanism 26 will beactuated in a manner similar to that shown in the application aboverefered to.

Secured to the shaft 24 for rotation therewith and within the annularmember 42 is a ratchet disk or wheel 44 having peripheral teeth, whichlatter are of some width. The

arm 25 is provided with an aperture of a diameter somewhat larger thanthe diam- .eter of the adjacent portion-of the shaft 24 and theextremity-45 of the shaft projects into this aperture. The arm is alsoprovided with a depending flange 46 surrounding the adjacent portion of"the shaft and also a portion of the hub of the ratchet disk or wheel 44.An operating handle or knob 47 is provided with a dependingsemi-circular portion 48v which surrounds the adja cent portion of theshaft 24 and projects throughthe aperture in the arm 25, and a fasteningdevice 49, such as a screw, bolt or the like. is provided for securingthe knob or handle 47 to the shaft 24 and also for holdin the arm 25against displacement. A gui e or way 50 is provided on the arm 25 andopens through the lower face thereof and mounted to slide looselytherein is a member 51 provided with a bifurcated portion 52 in one endthereof. This bifurcated portion is adapted to receive a portion of theextremity 45 of the shaft 24 and the extremities 53 of this bifurcatedportion abu and coiiperate with the shoulders 54 formed by the ends ofthe semi-circular depending portion 48 of the knob or handle 47.

Pivotally supported by the arm 25 and located in the space betweentheannular member 42 and the periphery of thetoothed or ratchet wheel 44and by means of the pivot pin or member 55 are a pair of dogs 56, 57,one of which is slightly longer than the other. These dogs are arrangedone above the other and are both adapted to act upon the peripheralteeth of the ratchet wheel member or wheel 44, which latter are ofsufficient width to permit both of the dogs to act thereon. Theextremities of these dogs are held normally in engagement with theseteeth by means of elastic members 58. Bymeans of these dogs 56, 57, andthe disk or ratchet wheel 44 the arm 25 will be locked to the shaft 24for rotation therewith, inasmuch as the ratchet disk or Wheel 44 isitself locked" or secured to the shaft 24 for rotation therewith.

The arm 25 is adapted to be adjusted by means of the knob or handle 47to any desired position with respect to the graduations 43 so that themeter will operate to discharge the predetermined quantity, during Whichoperation the blades 13 will be rotated by the liquid passingtherethrough and the shaft 24 rotated in the manner already described tocause the arm 25 to advance toward the tripping mechanism 26 and whenthe extremity of the arm engages this tripping mechanism the latter willbe operated in a manner and for the purpose as set forth in theapplication above referred to. In order therefore to permit the arm 25to be moved in a direction opposed to the teeth on the ratchet disk ormember 44 it is necessary to remove the extremities of the dogs 56, 57to such an extent that they will pass over the ratchet teeth. This isaccomplished by rotating the handle or member 47 about the fasteningbolt 49 in one direction or the other and this rotary motion will causethe shoulders 54 of the semi-circular depending portion 48 to force themember 51 forwardly in the guide or way 50 and to move a projection 59on said member, and which extends across the dogs 56 and 57, intoengagement with the dogs and thereby move their extremities intopositions in which they will not engage the teeth of the ratchet so thatthe arm 25 may be moved in a direction opposed to the'teeth. An elasticmember 60 is provided which may be secured to a shoulder 61 on themember 51 and the extremities of this elastic member are adapted toengage an annular flange or,face on the ratchet member 44 so that 1tstension will tend normally to move the member 51 in the guide or way 50in a dlrection to move the projection 59 away from the dogs 56,

57, and thereby per- &

ing to, for example, say, one hundred gal lons, while the ratchet member44 need be provided with only fifty teeth.

In order to permit the ready adjustment "ofthe arm 25 in the manneralready set forth so that the arm may be quickly set without danger ofpassing beyond the predetermined point on the indicator, and in order toinsure the accurate setting of the arm each time withoutnecessitating'several adjustments, a stop 61 is provided which 1spreferably formed on an annular member 62, which latter is mounted in asuitable guide or way in the annular member 42 and this stop 61 projectsinto the path of movement of'a yielding member 63 which latter is alsosupported by the arm 25. and is preferably acted upon by the elasticmembers 58. These elastic members tend normally to hold the member 63against the inner face 'of the annular member 62 so that when the dogs56, 57, are released to permit the arm 25 to be moved by the handle orknob 47, the stop 61 will be engaged by the member 63 to limit thisadjustment of the arm 25. A suitable fastening device 64 may be providedfor securing the ring 62 and the stop 61 in its adjusted position. Theposition of the ring 62 and its stop may be adjusted by loosening thefastening device 64 and rotating the ring by means of the finger of anoperator, or any suitable article, inserted under annular member 42 incontact with the stop '61. It will thus be seen that when the stop 61 isadjusted and secured in position, and after each operation of the meter,the operator may readily and quickly throw the arm 25 back to itsstarting position or to a position so that a predetermined amount ofliquid may be passed through the meter. The arm 25 however, is adaptedto pass the stop 61 in the opposite direction, one or more times, andthis is accomplished by also provided between which the support 38 isadapted to move and serve as means but briefly stated is as for limitingthe movement thereof under the influence of the float 35.

It is thought that the operation of this improved device will be clearlyunderstood follows: The liquid is caused to flow through the metereither by means of suction or by gravity, or it may be forced throughthe meter. As the liquid flows into the inlet opening 11 of the metercasing it will enter the chamber 36 and will accumulate therein to anextend suflicient to raise the float 35 until the gear 16 is moved in omesh with the gear 15. So long as this amount of liquid remains in thechamber 36 the gear 16 will be held in mesh with the gear 15 but shouldthe liquid in the chamber 36 fall below the required amount, the float35 will also fall and this movement of the float will automatically movethe gear 16 out of mesh with the gear 15, thereby rendering the registermechanism inactive while the blades 13 may be rotated without affectingthe registering mechanism. What is claimed as new is:

1. In a liquid meter, the combination of a casing, a rotatable elementtherein, said element being rotatable by the passage of the liquidthrough the casing, a register, means connecting the rotary element withthe register for operating the latter, a chamber in the casing adjacentthe inlet thereof, a float in the chamber, means operatively related tothe float and the said connecting means for controlling the register,said chamber having an opening in one wall through which accessmay behad to the float, and a removable closure for said opening.

2. In a liquid meter, the combination of a rotary plston, a register,means operatively connecting the piston with the reg- 1st er andembodying as a component part a sh ftable gear, and means controlled bythe height of the liquid in the meter for shifting said gear to renderthe register active or inactlve.

3. In a liquid meter, the combination of a rotary piston, a register,means operatively connecting the piston with the register and embodyingas a component part a shiftable gear, and a float controlled byrthesupply of liquid for shifting the gear to controlthe register. a

4. In a liquid meter, the combination of a rotary. piston, a register, agear connection between the'said piston and register for operatingthelatter, said connection includlng as a component part a gearshiftable into and out of mesh with its cooperating I gear, and meanscontrolled by the height of the l quid in the meter for automaticallyshifting the shiftable gear.

operating the latter,

- gear.

' for the shiftable gear, a

5 In a liquid meter, the combination of a rotary piston, a register, agear connedtion between the said piston and register ,for operating thelatter, said connection inheight of the liquid in the meter for automatically moving the latter to shift the gear supported thereby into andout of mesh with the cooperating gear.

7. In a liquid meter, the combination of a rotary element, a register, agear connection between said element and register for said connectionincluding a shiftable gear, a movable element supporting said shiftablegear, and a float within the meter casing operatively connected with thesaid movable element for moving the latter to shift ,the gear supportedthereby into and out of mesh with the cooperating 8. In a liquid meter,the combination of a rotary element, a register, a gear connectionbetween the said element and register for operating the latter, saidconnection embodying a gear shiftable into and out of mesh with itscooperating gear, a support float controlled by the liquid forautomatically shifting said shiftable gear, and a link connection tweenthe float and gear support, said connection also serving as apositioning holder for the shiftable gear. '9. In a liquid meter, thecombination of a rotary element, a register, a gear connection betweenthe said element and register for operating the latter, said connectionembodying a gear shiftable intoand out of mesh with the cooperatinggear, a swinging support for the shiftable gear, a float controlled bythe liquid for automatically shifting said support and gear, and a linkconnection between the float and support, sald connection serving as apositioning holder for the swinging support.

10. In a liquid meter, the combination of a rotary element, a register,a gear connection between the said element and register for operatingthe latter, said connection embodying a gear shiftable into and out ofmesh with its cooperating gear, ,a swinglng support for the shiftablegear, stops between which the support moves, a

bea trolled by the liquid for automatically shiftof two subscribingWitnesses, on this 11th ing said support andflgear, and a link 0011'-day of January A. D. 1911. nection between the oat and support, said Lconnection serving as a positioning holder THOMAS MULLIGAN' 5 for. theswinging support. WVitnesses:

In testimony whereof I have signed my HARRY J. BRADLEY, name to thisspecification, in the presence FRANK P. ELLIOTT.

